Thousands more illegal vapes seized in County Durham

Thousands more illegal vapes were seized from County Durham shops last year as local authorities continue their crackdown on the “incredibly dangerous” products, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar. 

Data reveals 7,578 illegal vapes were seized by enforcement officers in 2024, up from 5,937 the previous year. The latest figure is almost double the 3,911 vapes seized in 2022. 

Durham County Council issued 11 closure orders to shops in 2024 for selling illegal tobacco and vaping products, up from six the previous year. It is also a significant increase from the three closures in 2022 and one in 2021. 

A new initiative named Operation Nightstar initiative is targeting shops and sellers believed to be involved in the illegal distribution of vapes.

People have been warned that cheap replicas are full of untested, harmful and illegal chemicals yet are commonly sold to children.

Earlier this month, a Durham City shop that sold vapes to children on multiple occasions, including a 15-year-old, was ordered to close for three months.

Hundreds of illegal vapes and illicit tobacco were removed from the premises over various visits and on one occasion, goods worth more than £2,800 were seized, after being found hidden under the counter and in a cupboard.

Officers from Durham Constabulary and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) have teamed up with Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, Trading Standards, Public Health and local councils to target shops selling illegal vapes and tobacco.

NEROCU Detective Chief Inspector Daryll Tomlinson, said: “As legal vapes become more and more popular officers and partners are seeing a rise in illegal and dangerous knockoffs.

“Illegal vapes are untested and unrestricted, they carry incredibly dangerous health risks and there are also concerns illegal vapes are connected to the exploitation of children or other vulnerable persons.

“We know that vapes are more appealing to children and while work such as test purchasing and targeted operations are ongoing to stop the sale of these to those underage, we need to make sure we’re working with the public and partners to stop the sale of illegal vapes altogether.

“By reporting it you can help stop these vapes from being sold and getting into communities and the hands of vulnerable people such as children.”

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen, warned illegal vapes and tobacco threaten the safety of communities. 

“I am committed to ensuring that those who exploit vulnerable individuals, especially young people, face the full force of enforcement.

“Tackling drug-related crime, including the illegal vape trade, is a central pillar of my Police and Crime Plan. 

“We will not tolerate this kind of exploitation in County Durham and Darlington. Together with our partners, we will act swiftly and decisively to stamp out this growing threat and safeguard our communities.”